Fold-out camping shelter



June 6, 1967 E. LUNDBY FOLD-OUT CAMPING SHELTER Filed Feb. 12, 1965 all, Q will INVENTOR. L U/VDBY ED WARD United States Patent 3,323,827 FOLD-OUT CAMPING SHELTER Edward Lundby, 1029 W. Citron St.,

Corona, Calif. 91720 Filed Feb. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 432,118 Claims. (Cl. 29623) The present invention relates to a fold-out camping shelter and more particularly to such a shelter adapted for use in trailer form so that it can be towed from one location to another.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact shelter in the form of a rectangular box which can be provided with wheels for towing behind an automobile or the like. The box includes a cover hinged to one side of the box which in turn is hinged to the bottom of the box. Thus, the cover of the shelter can be pivoted upwardly and outwardly to locate the cover and the associated hinged side of the box in the same plane as the bottom of the box to thereby provide a relatively large usable area. An additional and related object of the invention is to provide a comparatively rugged boat or luggage rack on the top of the cover so that when the cover is unfolded the luggage rack serves as a means for supporting the cover at the same height as the wheels support the bottom of the shelter box. This completely eliminates the need for any auxiliary support blocks or jacks or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldout camping shelter of the aforementioned characterin which the upper corners of the ends of the shelter box are beveled or otherwise chamfered adjacent the pivotable or hinged side to provide a pair of ramps for slidably bearing the weight of the cover during its initial outward folding. That is, the operator of the camping shelter does not have to raise the full weight of the cover in order to fold it outwardly. Instead, the free edge is raised while simultaneously pushing the cover sideways so that the cover p vots and slides down the inclined ramps defined by the beveled corners of the ends. The cover continues to slide downwardly until the associated hinged side is in the same horizontal plane as the shelter bottom. Continued unfolding of the cover is now merely a pivoting of the cover about its lower, hinged edge. Consequently. the shelter can be unfolded without any great effort, facilitating its use by Women and teenagers.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a fold-out camping shelter of the aforementioned character in which the unfolded shelter is characterized by a floor area or su porting surface all located in a single plane, and also characterized by full head room throughout the floor area.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shelter of the type mentioned which in its folded condition houses a covering or tent and which is adapted to at least partially deploy or extend the tent automatically during unfolding of the shelter. A related object of the invention is to effect such unfolding of the tent by providing telescopable struts which are properly oriented in both their folded and unfolded states by reason of their pivoted connections to anchorages mounted to the pivot? able or outwardly foldable side of the shelter box.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fold-out camping shelter of the aforementioned character which can, if desired, be manufactured without wheels and provided with suitable mounting fixturesto permit it to be attached to the top of an automobile or to the chassis or body of any of the many varieties of presently available campers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fold-out camping shelter which is extremely simple to operate, uncomplicated in its mechanical operation, relative- Patented June 6, 1967 1y inexpensive to manufacture, and characterized by a long and reliable service life.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fold-out camping shelter according to the present invention and embodied in trailer form;

FIG. 2 in a transverse cross-sectional view of the shelter taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear end elevational view of the shelter, illustrating the pivotable side in its unfolded state and the cover in a partially unfolded state;

FIG. 4 is a rear end elevational view of the shelter similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating the pivotable side and the cover completely unfolded, with the tent deployed and supported in position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail longitudinal cross-sectional view of the shelter taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4, illustrating the construction of the joint between sections of one of the telescopable, U-shape struts;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial longitudinal cross-sectional lllieW dof the shelter taken along the line 66 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end elevational view of one of the anchorages for pivotally securing the lower ends of the telescopable, U-s'hape struts, portions of the associated structure being cut away to also illustrate details of the hinges.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a fold-out Camping shelter 10 which is provided with a pair of wheels 12 to adapt the shelter 10 for towing by an automobile or other vehicle. The wheels 12 are mounted beneath the shelter on an axle which is supported on the shelter underside by usual springs and spring shackles as will be apparent.

As previously indicated, the shelter 10 is sufliciently compact and light in weight that it can also be manufactured without wheels and the mounting means therefor so that it can be secured or carried upon a camper body or the roof of an automobile, if desired. Therefore, the description of the trailer form of the shelter 10 should 11ft be construed as limiting but rather as merely exemp ary.

The shelter 10 is in the form of an elongated rectangular box defined by a horizontally oriented rectangular floor 14 to which are rigidly secured by any suitable means a pair of vertically disposed ends 16 and 18 and a vertically disposed side 20 having the same height as the ends 16 and 18. The terms end and side refer to the orientation of the unfolded shelter 10 as the same would be identified in its trailer form.

The rectangular box of the shelter 10 is also defined by a vertically oriented Wall or side 22 opposite the side 20. The side 22 is pivoted at its lower edge to the adjacent edge of the floor 14 by any suitable hinge means, such as a piano type of binge 24 coextensive with the pivot joint. An identical hinge 26 is utilized to pivotally secure together the upper edge of the side 22 to the adjacent coextensive edge of a rectangular cover 28 which overlies the floor 14 and rests upon the upper edges of the side 20 and the ends 16 and 18. Both the hinge 24 and the hinge 26 are preferably mounted in recesses provided in their mounting surfaces so that when the shelter 10 is unfolded the hinges 24 and 26 are flush with the upper surfaces of the fioor 14, the side 22, and the cover 28. This is best viewed in FIG. 7.

The cover 28 includes a peripheral, depending flange 30 which caps the ends 16 and 18 and the side 20 to protect them from the weather.

The unhinged or free side edge of the cover 28 is normally secured in its folded state to the side by a conventional lock 32 or similar conventional fastening device.

A boat or luggage carrier 34 is attached to the cover 28 and projects upwardly from the cover 28 when the cover is in its folded state. The carrier 34 is not only adapted to support a boat or luggage or the like, but provides a means for supporting the cover 28 when it is unfolded, as will be seen. For this purpose the carrier 34 includes a pair of upright legs 36 at one end and a pair of identical legs 36 at the opposite end, each pair of legs .36 being connected at their upper ends by a transverse member or support 38. The lower extremities of the legs 36 are rigidly fastened in any suitable manner to the cover 28.

The carrier 34 also includes a pair of longitudinally extending members or beams 40, each of which is secured at its opposite extremities to the longitudinally spacedapart legs 36 at one side of the cover 28. Each beam 40 is braced at its midportion by a pair of diagonal members or braces 42 arranged between the cover 28 and the beam 40 in the form of an inverted V as illustrated.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of inclined surfaces or ramps 44 at the corners of the ends 16 and 18 adjacent the hinged longitudinal or side edge of the cover 28. These ramps 44 facilitate unfolding of the cover 28 by providing surfaces upon which the cover can be slid and pivoted when the cover is being lifted and pulled to one side for unfolding the shelter. The cover slides along the upper edges of the ends 16 and 18 and onto the inclined surfaces or ramps 44 with the weight of the cover 14 largely borne by the ends 16 and 18, and the ramps 44 thereof, during initial sliding movement of the cover, as best seen in FIG. 3.

The weight of the cover 28 carries the cover and the pivotable side 22 outwardly and downwardly until the side 22 is oriented in the same horizontal plane as the shelter bottom or floor 14, as best seen in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the side 22 is prevented from pivoting downwardly beyond the horizontal plane of the floor 14 by an elongated, longitudinally extending plate or stop 46 which is secured to the lower surface of the floor 14 adjacent its hinged edge and projects beneath the lower surface of the unfolded side 22. The projecting portion of the stop 46 thus supports the side 22 in the same horizontal plane as the floor 14 and prevents it from pivoting downwardly beyond the position illustrated.

An identical elongated stop 48 is secured to the cover 28 adjacent its pivoted edge and projects beneath the unfolded side 22 of the shelter to prevent relative vertical displacement of the pivotable side 22 and the cover 28.

Thus, the side 22, cover 28, and cover 14 are all established in the same horizontal plane in their unfolded state by the stops 46 and 48.

Movement of the cover 28 from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, at which time the stop 48 is operative, is relatively easy because the cover is merely pivoted about its lower edge. Thus, its weight is largely carried by that lower edge until the cover 28 nears its horizontal, unfolded position. At that time the carrier 34 is disposed beneath the cover and engages the ground to support the cover 28 at the level of the floor 14. For this purpose, the legs 36 of the carrier 34 are made approximately the same length as the height of the floor 14 above the ground or other supporting surface. It is also noted that the wheels 12 are located beneath the floor 14 and do not extend upwardly on the outside of the sides 20 and 22. This leaves the area at the side of the hinged side 22 completely free for unfolding the shelter 10.

The unfolded cover 28 constitutes a single plane con tinuation of both the floor 14 and the side 22 and thus provides an uncluttered single surface which can be used for any of many camping purposes, including its use as a sleeping area, eating area, or recreation area.

' unfolded floor area from rain and the like, the tent 50 normally being housed in its collopased condition within the hollow interior of the closed shelter box. The tent is partially projected automatically to its operative position by three bows or struts 52 which are each characterized by a transverse portion and a pair of transversely spaced apart legs which pivot or swing in vertical planes, the Whole defining an inverted U-sh-ape.

Each leg of each U-shaped strut 52 is telescopable and for this purpose includees an upper leg portion 54 slidably telescopable within the hollow interior of a larger diameter tubular lower leg portion 56.

As best viewed in FIG. 7, the legs of each of the three U-shaped struts 52 are pivotally secured to a pair of transversely spaced-apart mounting angles or anchorages 58, one of which is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The anchorages 58 are secured in any suitable fashion to the pivotable side 22. When the side 22 is moved to its folded position, the anchorages 58 are disposed inwardly and carry the struts inwardly with them. The struts 52 assume horizontal positions by virtue of their own weight, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, they also tend to be urged to such horizontal positions because of connection of the lower extremities of the struts 52 to adjacent portions of the tent 50 by ties 60, and connection of the upper extremities of the struts 52 to adjacent portions of the tent 50 by ties 62. Conversely, the unfolding of the tent 50 tends to urge the struts 52 upwardly and outwardly to a partially deployed state, and this is aided by the pivotal movement of the anchorages 58 outwardly to the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As best viewed in FIGS. 4 and 6, the tent 50 is substantially rectangular and provided at its top with a sloping apex portion. The lower edges of the tent 50 are secured in any suitable fashion to the side 20, the ends 16 and 18, and the cover 28. More particularly, the tent edges are secured to the side 20 and the ends 16 and 18 by an elongated metal strap 64 which overlies the tent edge and is secured by a plurality of nut and bolt fastening devices 66 to the inside periphery of the side 20 and the ends 16 and 18. In like manner, the tent edge is secured to the cover 28 by interposition between a peripheral angle 68 and a complemental, coextensive strap 70, both of which extend all around the border of the cover 28. The angle 68 and the strap 70 are secured together in any suitable manner along their length, as by nut and bolt fastening devices 72. With this arrangement, the tent 5.0 collapses and urges the struts 52 horizontally when the shelter 10 is folded, and moves to an upright or deployed condition with the struts 52 when the shelter 10 is unfolded.

Immediately subsequent to unfolding of the shelter 10, the tent 50 is only partially erected. The operator then enters through a doorway (not shown) in the tent and then sequentially pushes upwardly against the transverse portions of each of the struts 52 until the leg portions 54 are fully extended. At this point the upper leg portions 54 become locked to the lower leg portions 56 and maintain the struts 52 is in the extended positions illustrated in FIG. 7.

The locking together of each pair of leg portions 54 and 56 is provided by a U-shaped spring clip 74 which is located within the lower extremity of the upper leg portion 54 and mounts a button 76 biased outward-1y by the spring action of the clip 74. The biasing of the button 76 normally urges it outwardly through an opening provided in the upper leg portion 54. When the button 76 is aligned with a complement-a1 opening which is provided in the upper extremity of the lower leg portion 56, the button 76 snaps into such opening and prevents relative axial movement between the leg portions 54 and 56. This occurs when the struts 52 are in their extended positions. The leg portions can be released for telescoping movement by merely inwardly pressing the button 76 to disengage the leg portion 56.

From the foregoing it is seen that a compact, easily unfolded shelter 10 is provided which is adapted for use either as a trailer or for mounting upon a suitable trailer body or automobile top. The shelter 10 is comparatively simple to operate, inexpensive to manufacture, and is adapted to provide a large and usable single plane area merely by outwardly folding the cover and one side of the rectangular box.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fold-out camping shelter having the general form of a substantially rectangular box and comprising:

a floor; a first side secured to said floor;

a pair of ends secured to said floor and including inclined ramp portions at the upper corners thereof opposite said first side;

a second side; first hinge means connecting said second side to said floor for outward pivotal movement into the plane of said floor;

a cover overlying said floor in engagement with said pair of ends and said first side; and second hinge means connecting said cover to said second side for outward pivotal movement of said cover whereby said cover is adapted to move downwardly and outwardly on said ramp portions and thereafter pivot into the plane of said floor.

2. A fold-out camping shelter according to claim 1 and including supporting means located beneath and attached to said floor to support said floor a predetermined height above a supporting surface, and further including a rack secured to said cover for luggage and the like and having legs adapted upon movement of said cover into the plane of said floor to support said cover at said predetermined height above said supporting surface.

3. A fold-out camping shelter according to claim 1 and including stop means engageable between said floor and said second side to prevent outward pivotal movement of said second side beyond the plane of said floor.

4. A foldout camping shelter according to claim 1 and including stop means engageable between said second side and said cover to prevent outward pivotal movement of said cover beyond the plane of said second side.

5. A fold-out camping shelter according to claim 1 and including a tent in said box having the skirt thereof connected to said cover, said ends, and at least one of said first and second sides whereby said tent is unfolded during said outward pivotal movement of said cover;

a plurality of elongated struts fastened to portions of said tent;

and anchorage means pivotally mounting the extremities of said struts, said anchorage means being secured to said second side whereby said outward pivotal movement of said second side tends to move said struts outwardly of said floor to facilitate erection of said tent.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,283,898 11/1918 Reid. 2,5 03,482 4/ 1950 Hamilton 29623 FOREIGN PATENTS 807,636 10/1936 France. 1,289,422 2/ 1962 France.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

P. GOODMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FOLD-OUT CAMPING SHELTER HAVING THE GENERAL FORM OF A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BOX AND COMPRISING: A FLOOR; A FIRST SIDE SECURED TO SAID FLOOR; A PAIR OF ENDS SECURED TO SAID FLOOR AND INCLUDING INCLINED RAMP PORTIONS AT THE UPPER CORNERS THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID FIRST SIDE; A SECOND SIDE; FIRST HINGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID SECOND SIDE TO SAID FLOOR FOR OUTWARD PIVOTAL MOVEMENT INTO THE PLANE OF SAID FLOOR; A COVER OVERLYING SAID FLOOR IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PAIR OF ENDS AND SAID FIRST SIDE; AND SECOND HINGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID COVER TO SAID SECOND SIDE FOR OUTWARD PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER WHEREBY SAID COVER IS ADAPTED TO MOVE DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY ON SAID RAMP PORTIONS AND THEREAFTER PIVOT INTO THE PLANE OF SAID FLOOR. 